Creole Sketches/The Restless Boarder
THE RESTLESS BOARDER[1]
He come to me fust of de mont, an' say, "Madame, I must another room; I not can live in dat for de noise abominable vat make dose infants." And I reply him, "Monsieur, choose yourself vat room mos' you like."
Den he tell me to get him arrange one room on t'ird floor. I get room right morning. Evening he say, "Madame, I not can take dat room; I take back oder." So I change him de tings well more.
Next week he say, "Madame, I must anoder room obtain; I not can suffer more de noise of devils vat dose infants make." So I arrange room on fourt floor. In de evening he tell me his mind be change — dat he not more want dat oder room. So I have all for to move back again.
After, he come to me de t'irte-et', and say, "Madame, you get to me one oder room, dat for I not leave de house. No more can I suffer de noise infernal and outrajeous vat make dose infants detestable." I say, "Monsieur, take vonce vat room you deseer, and leave me tranquille."
He den take room on front floor; but in middle night he go down gentle de stair and put all tings updownside, and go back in ole room. Den in de morning he tell my domestique to him aid, an' for more as five hour dey walk up de stair an' down de stair carr'ing much of valise an' of trunk an' of ole pantalons an' of washing-basin an' of pillow — and of pot. De vat ma disguss.
At de end all at sudden he take oder room, and dere install him well — vat I much surprise. But not more be I surprise ven dat I see him go out from de house, away, an' one negro vat carry him de valise. And much be I content for dat I see it.
But I not long content.
De morning after I see a procession vat enter de house one time more — de negro, de valise, and he, and one boy vat carry him de tobacco-pot and boots. So he go up de stair, and put back himself to his ole room. Not ever in-no-matter-vat-place see I such tings.
Den he come to me an' say, "Madame, so some one ask after me, tell dem dat I am one mad." "Certainlee," I reply, "I will so dem tell, for dat it be true." But I not understand vat he mean precise until one hour more. Den come to house one man who ask if dat he vas not live here.
"Ah, oui," I say, "he live here, but he is one mad."
"So it is," he reply, "I tink; for as he come to pay me one mont advance, and never not again come back. So you give to him back his monis."
Den I be sorry for dat I tell he vas one mad; for dat I see he not one mad at all; — but only one devil vat desire torment all person vitout paying for his vickedness. So I give to him de money, but notice of quit he not take; and I not can yet guess how far dat I be get rid him.
- ↑ Item, October 27, 1879.